Forte hat-trick stings Bees

Debutant hits first-half hat-trick

Last updated: 15th November 2008

Forte hat-trick stings Bees

Forte: Debut to remember

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Jonathan Forte marked his debut with a stunning first-half hat-trick as Notts County ran riot to beat a woeful Barnet 4-0 at Underhill.

The striker, making his first appearance since signing on a month's loan from Scunthorpe, scored three times in 31 minutes to give County just their third league win of the season.

Richard Butcher's spectacular left-foot volley gave the visitors the lead after just seven minutes, before Forte stole the show with a devastating show of finishing.

The former Sheffield United forward made the most of some dreadful Barnet defending, firing home from close-range after good work by Jamie Clapham on 14 minutes, before adding his second just seven minutes later following a mistake by Ismail Yakubu.

Myles Weston wasted a glorious opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet after failing to hit the target from six-yards, but Forte raced clear just before the break to claim his hat-trick and leave Barnet reeling.

The home side improved after the break with Albert Adomah's fierce drive coming within inches of beating Russell Hoult, but by then County were home and dry.